Jones El Abdellaoui and Reda Laalaoui have earned high praise from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their standout performances that helped Morocco secure a place in the final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Atlas Lion Cubs reached the tournament’s climax with a narrow 1-0 victory over hosts Egypt, a result that underlined Morocco’s growing strength at youth level.
Ahead of the final against South Africa in Cairo on Sunday, CAF has spotlighted four key players from the two sides, with El Abdellaoui and Laalaoui emerging as Morocco’s most influential names.
“His playing time is not the highest, but his performance is close to exceptional,” CAF wrote in reference to El Abdellaoui, who made an immediate impact in the semi-final. Introduced in the 64th minute, the young striker wasted no time, scoring the decisive goal that sealed Morocco’s victory.
“A decisive goal, a match rated 7.6, and an impression of serenity in the heated moments. Jones El Abdellaoui is one of those players who never waver. His goal-scoring skills and his lucidity in front of the opposing goal could tip the scales,” the statement continued.
Laalaoui, who plays his club football for FUS Rabat, was also singled out for his influential role in midfield.
At just 20 years old, the midfielder has been described as the “metronome in the middle,” setting the tempo and dictating the flow of play with poise and precision.
“Reda Laalaoui exudes astonishing maturity. A key figure in midfield, he sets the pace, guides, calms or accelerates as needed,” CAF highlighted. His most notable performance came during the grueling quarter-final against Sierra Leone, a match that extended into extra time.
“His benchmark match? A marathon quarter-final against Sierra Leone, played to the end of 120 minutes, with a performance rated 8.1.
Calm, technically sound, and with remarkable passing skills, Laalaoui embodies balance and discipline.
These are valuable qualities in a final where every ball will count,” the football governing body added.
With both El Abdellaoui and Laalaoui playing crucial roles, Morocco now prepares for a highly anticipated showdown against South Africa.
As the final looms, CAF’s recognition serves as both a commendation of their contributions and a testament to Morocco’s depth of emerging talent.
